Page 4 of Prognosis Do Over

The baby chose that moment to give her a hefty kick, as if objecting to the lie. She placed her hand over the spot and rubbed it absently. Sorry, baby, but if he’s going to accuse me of being easy when he should know me better, then he can suffer for a bit.

Will followed the movement and felt another irrational streak of jealousy. She was carrying another man’s baby. He hadn’t been prepared for that. Her anger, her hostility—yes. But not how much it was going to sting knowing she had traded him in for someone else so quickly.

He shook his head to clear it. ‘Since when did you want a baby?’

‘I’ve always wanted one,’ she snapped.

‘You never told me,’ he said indignantly.

‘When was it ever the right time to tell you, Will? I’m a thirty-five-year-old woman. What makes you think I wouldn’t want one?’

He blinked. Good question. She was a paediatric nurse. A damn good one at that. She’d been wonderful with Candy.

He sighed. ‘Who’s the father?’ Please, God, don’t let me know him. ‘Are you going to marry him?’

Lou felt herself getting sucked in to the lie further, and searched for a half-truth to assuage her guilt. ‘He’s not on the scene.’

It’s complicated.

She thought about Jan and Martin and clutched her swollen belly harder.

Will blinked. The surprises just kept on coming. ‘What do you mean? Doesn’t he know you’re pregnant?’

‘It’s not like that,’ she dodged, hoping she could keep the lies straight. ‘It was just a casual thing.’

Will narrowed his eyes and looked at her closely. Rubbish. There was something she wasn’t telling him. How badly had she wanted a baby? Had she used some poor, unsuspecting guy to accomplish her goal?

‘Lou, you didn’t just use some guy to get pregnant, did you?’

The baby kicked again. Anger simmered through her veins. Did he really think her capable of such a cold-blooded plan? ‘This is none of your business, Will. All you need to know is that I’m pregnant and I’ll be out of your hair in a month. I’m sure you and I can manage to be civil to each other in that time, right? Or is that going to be a problem?’

Four weeks. He’d been looking forward to coming back to his old job, knowing he’d get to see Lou every day. Because apart from their history she was the best damn nurse unit manager he’d ever worked with.

Efficient, knowledgeable and resourceful.

‘No problem,’ he said emphatically, staring into her pretty face and blue eyes. ‘Who’s filling in for you?’ he asked.

‘Lydia.’

Oh. Great.Just what he needed. The friend from hell. ‘Excellent,’ he said.

There was a moment of awkward silence. ‘I suppose you’re here to familiarise yourself with the new computer system?’ she said, not seeing any point in continuing hostilities when they had to work together.

‘No, I have some other stuff to attend to first. I’m coming back this afternoon to get myself orientated with that. I actually came to see you. Check that we were... okay.’

‘And?’

‘I don’t know, Lou.’ He raked his hands through his hair. ‘You’ve thrown me for a bit of a loop, actually.’

Welcome to my life.‘Well, back at you,’ she said.

The phone rang and Lou was grateful for the interruption. ‘Ward Two, Louise Marsden speaking.’

‘Everything okay?’ demanded Lydia.

Lou smiled. ‘Fine.’

‘Do you want me to come in and kick his butt?’

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